They’re still searching for new members.
The Keremeos and Area Search and Rescue
roster is currently sitting at eight members but
president Darrell Taylor said he’d love it if there
was three times that many.
“We’ve been holding at eight members for quite
awhile. More members would be good,” he said.
Despite the low number of members the group
has become increasingly active in the community
over the past year.
The group held a successful Family Day event
in 2016. The first of its kind in Keremeos.
“We’re planning on doing it again this year,”
Taylor said. “It was a lot of fun and it gave
families something to do.”
Recently members have committed to super
-
vising the climbing wall at the Similkameen
Recreation Centre on Friday nights.
“We want the kids to have something to do,”
he said.
Taylor acknowledges SAR doesn’t get called
out to many incidents in a year but when they
are called out it’s because they are really needed.
This month they were called to a report of a
vehicle that had run off the road.
On arrival it was found that fortunately no
vehicle had left the roadway.
“It turned out to be a false alarm. We were
called out to check it out, so we did,” he said.
Search and rescue meets every Wednesday at
7 p.m. at the SAR building behind the village
office.
This time of year training is focused on a lot
of proficiency skills like map reading and using
compasses.
In January the group will undertake flat ice
training with a special instructor.
Last year SAR received provincial funding in
the amount of $25,000 to help upgrade equip-
ment including ropes and GPS devices and send
several members through training courses in-
cluding first aid and tracking.
“This is a great way to help give back to the
community. It doesn’t cost members anything
and it’s a great way to give back,” he said.
Anyone interested in joining SAR can do so
by stopping in at the hall on Wednesdays at 7
p.m. and picking up an application form.
“Merry Christmas from everyone at search
and rescue,” Taylor said